Cigarette lighters



March 3, 1970 w. RETZLER CIGARETTE LIGHTERS Filed June 24, 1968 United States Patent U.S. Cl. 431142 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cigarette lighter which is assembled by inserting an integral action assembly into an outer casing through an aperture'in one direction, and subsequently inserting a fuel reservoir through a second aperture at right angles to the first direction, the presence of the fuel reservoir locking the action assembly in position.

The cost of man hours involved in assembling of devices such as cigarette lighters contributes a considerable proportion of the total costs of manufacture of the device, compared for example with the parts cost of the device. Simplification of assembly is therefore of the utmost importance.

With this requirement in view a cigarette lighter in accordance with the present invention comprises an outer casing, an integral action assembly, and a fuel reservoir, the outer casing being provided with two apertures, a first one for the insertion of the lighter action assembly and the other for insertion of the fuel reservoir, the lighter action assembly and the fuel reservoir each carrying abutment surfaces such that the insertion of the fuel reservoir through its aperture into the casing after insertion of the lighter action assembly through its aperture into the casing causes the abutment surfaces to engage one another and prevents subsequent withdrawal of the lighter action assembly. The fuel reservoir may itself be a tight push fit in the casing, or it may be a snap fit or held in by a closure for the aperture in the casing through which the reservoir is inserted.

With this arrangement assembly is considerably simplified since no assembly steps such as the application of screws is necessary to hold the lighter action assembly in position.

In order to obtain the maximum mechanical action of the co-operating abutments on the lighter action assembly and the fuel reservoir, these two parts are preferably inserted through their apertures into the lighter casing in directions substantially at right angles to one another. The abutment surface on the fuel reservoir can then be arranged to stand directly in the way of the abutment surface on the lighter action assembly in the event of an attempt to withdraw the lighter action assembly through its aperture again.

In one simple case the lighter action assembly is inserted laterally into the lighter casing through an aperture in one top corner of the lighter casing, the action assembly carrying a depending leg at its leading edge and this leg lying closely against the inside of the side wall of the casing remote from the side at which the first aperture is formed. The fuel reservoir is then inserted through an aperture in the bottom of the casing and sandwiches the leg between a side wall 'of the reservoir and the side wall of the lighter casing.

An example of a lighter constructed in accordance with the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the assembled lighter prior to operation; and,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective exploded view of the lighter prior to assembly.

The lighter has an outer casing 3 provided with an upper corner aperture 4 and an open bottom 5 forming the second aperture. The lighter action assembly 6 is mounted on a carrier plate 7 on which is movably mounted on a thumb piece actuating member 8, a depending flint tube 9, and a depending leg 10 forming one abutment surface. During assembly the action assembly is inserted laterally and slightly downwardly into the casing 3 through the first aperture 4 until the depending leg 10 engages the far side wall 11 of the casing 3. The outer surface of the actuating member 8 is then completely flush with that of the outer casing 3 and merges with it to form a symmetrical shell. This is as described in our co-pending application Ser. No. 741,407 filed July 1, 1968.

The action assembly is located within the casing 3 by upward insertion of a gas fuel reservoir 12 provided with a burner valve 13, a burner valve operating lever 14, and a passage 15 to receive the flint tube 9. The reservoir tank 12 is a push fit within the casing 3 and its side wall 12a forms the other abutment surface firmly trapping the depending leg 10 against the side wall 11, thus preventing subsequent lateral withdrawal of the action assembly through the aperture 4. The bottom of the casing 3 is closed by a snap fit bottom wall closure 16.

The lighter is operated by depressing the thumb piece actuating member 8 and when this is done the member is constrained by the action to move downwards and laterally outwards, substantially parallel to the imaginary inclined plane 17 across which the lower edge of the member 8 abuts the adjacent edge of the casing 3. Upon operation the lever 14 is rocked opening the valve 13, and releasing a jet of gaseous fuel which is ignited by a spark and a flame burns through an aperture 18 in the top wall of the casing 3. Upon subsequently releasing the actuating member 8, it returns to its inoperative position shown in FIGURE 1 under spring loading.

I claim:

1. A cigarette lighter comprising an outer casing, an action assembly, and a fuel reservoir, said action assembly and fuel reservoir being adapted to occupy specific operative positions within said outer casing, and said outer casing defining:

a first aperture located to permit introduction of said action assembly into its operative position Within said casing only by movement having a component in a first direction,

and a second aperture positioned to permit introduction of said fuel reservoir therethrough into its operative position within said casing only by movement in a direction transverse to said first direction;

said fuel reservoir being provided with an abutment surface which engages an abutment surface on said action assembly when both said action assembly and fuel reservoir are in their operative positions and thereby prevents movement of said action assembly in a direction opposite to said first direction.

2. A lighter according to claim 1, wherein said first and second apertures are adapted to enable said lighter action assembly and said fuel reservoir to be inserted through said first and second apertures in directions substantially at right angles to one another.

3. A lighter according to claim 2, wherein said first aperture is provided at one top corner of said lighter .3 4 casing and adapted to permit lateral insertion of said t i r References Cited lighter action assembly therethrough, said action assem-- UNITED STATES PATENTS bly carrying a depending leg at its leading edge and said leg when lying closely adjacent the inside of the side Wall 11: 8 of said casing remote from said first aperture, whereby 5 l when 'said fuel reservoir is subsequently inserted through FOREIGN PATENTS said second aperture in the bottom of said casing said 1 6261 7 /195 i leg is sandwiched between a side wall of said reservoir and said side wall of said lighter casing. EDWARD J; MICHAEL, Primary Examiner 

